The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-09
17REIdRFINA7pI,'
AN OFFICIAL OFpTaE DRPART.
uBNT GONE WRONG.
He Has Been Guilty Of . Systematic
Attempt to Defraud the
Gov ernment.

q sensation was createu IN the lrehe-
ury Department this afternoon by the
discovery thsts trusted official In the
department had been guilty Of sys-
tematic attempt to deiraud the govern
ment. The officer was arrested at
Wilkeshsrrs yesterday afternoon as he |
was about to take thu train for Wssh-
ington, and his dismissal from the SER
vice was ordered by Secretary Fair
child this afternoon. His name 10
Oscar J. Hsrvey, and he has been EN-.
ployed in the department since June,
1885, when be was appointed Chief OF
the Horse CLAIMS Division Of the
Third Auditors Office. II was while
he held this position that he perpe-
trated the frauds with which he ia
now charged. On the I'd Of JuDe.las,
be was transferred TO the head Of q
division In the Second Comptroller's
Office, Q division which has charge Oh
claims OF the same nature az those in
the division which he had Just left.
Austin II. Brown, OF Indianapolis,
succeeded Harvey as chief oil the
Horse Claims Division, and soon alter
he took charge Of the office he dis
covered the frauds OF which his pre-
decessor had been guilty. They con.
sisted OF tire passage Of forty.three
fraudulent claims for horsee, aggre-
eating 5000, and the preparation OF
many additional cases OF similar ma
ture which were under consideration
In the Office. Soon alter Mr.. Brown
took charge he discovered something
wrong, and reported the matter TO the
Secretary, and the frauds have been
run down. In most cases the claims
are for horses lost during the late war,
and are presented In the names OF Off
GERS Of Pennsylvania and New Jersey
regiments. All OF the cases appeared
20 have been prosecuted by wv. W.
Wynn" first OF Philadelphia, and then
Of Washington, and the services OF
~. O. Manford," notary public, Phil
adelphia, were called Into rtquisition
In connection with the necessary afii.
davis. The work involved very
large number OF foreigners, officials
and otherwise, and the stealing OF
numerous inor minating papera fsom
the 6itg Of the department. For in-
stance, IN thirisen claims II was found
that signatures involving the names
OF thirty-eiehl officers were Tor.
geries. Subsequently II was found
that the Second Auditors name
had been forged In the certificates re-
ceiyed from that flice, and aso'thnt
none OF the Pennsylvania and New
Jersey casel In which Mr.. Wynn was
attorney wero entered on the records
OF that office. The claims which bad
been allowed wers then oyerhauled,
and In almost every instance II was
found that the second auditors cerii'
ficAte 40 10 signatures had been alb
slracisd together with other papers.
The stamp OF the mail room, Third
Auditors Office, and the stamp 81 the
HorseOlaims divisions, had been forged
and the dates arranged 90 ~ n bring
them within the limitation fixed To-
the filing Of these claims. The stamp
of the Quarteimasier Generals Office
was also forged. The drafts we're reg
ularly Issued, and an examination o.
such 90 have been returned ne paid
shovs tina, Harvey and Wynn are one
and theaams person. and that although
the drfis we're drawn In fsvor OF the
claimants, the money with one or tive
exceptions went directly 10 Harvey,
or 10 some OF his relatives. He had
secured their payment by forging th'
signature Uf the psyee and then In
dorsipg the draft with bis own name
Maniord, the Philadelphia notary, lik'
Wynn, the attorney, was foun'
10 be myth. Mos, @
the notaries and persons named II
the caim- are unknown 10 the Depart
meu,. In edition IN the ioIty.thre
cases passed thsre have been $50 simi
lar casse adjusted, sggregatlng $50. 900
and there are etll pending az uaad
ins,ed sixty. eight csssa amounting
tl3,e0O, making total OF 1911 fraudr
lent cases when nigh. have eventu
ally been paid bu, for the discovery
Harvey left Warrington about the II
insalt, on n short vacation, and rs q
ready stated, was arrested ~ he vi
about 20 return lie was brought I
this city hy officers Of the sec 'tt BEL
vice, who have kept him under n
yslllance since he was fret suspectg'
He asked TO see the Secretary, an
when he was informed OF the eyidens
against him, he broke down o'mplei'
ly and made q foil confession u h
guilt.